Libya and Russia have agreed to sign an $1.8 billion contract which reportedly includes Su-35 long-range bombers and S-300PMU2 SAM batteries. Libya would loan the bombers to Lebanon in the event of a war with Israel.

The deal might take time to finalize and it is unlikely that Russia would deliver S-300 to Libya, which can transfer them to another country.

But if S-300 is so good and relatively inexpensive, why does Israel rely on Patriot, Arrow-2, and X-band instead of procuring the superior Russian systems?